Two days later, it was Hendrix's birthday.He had never really cared much about birthdays, but when his family insisted on throwing him a party this year, he didn't refuse. Noelle, of course, wasn't going to attend the event. Instead, Hendrix sent her a message in the evening, asking her to wait for him at Percy Gardens.The party was a success. Nearly everyone who mattered in the social circles had shown up. While the event wasn't open to the public, a few minor celebrities had managed to sneak in.Since Hendrix's divorce had become public knowledge, more people seemed eager to get close to him. Their motives were more obvious now—straightforward, even.Over the course of the night, Hendrix had his clothes ruined three times. By the time the last person spilled a drink on him, he didn't even bother to change. He simply pushed away the hand that tried to touch him."Mr. Freeman, why don't you let me clean that up for you?" The woman, wearing a strapless gown, looked at him with
But eventually, Noelle couldn't hold out any longer. Since she couldn't go to the room directly, she just collapsed onto the couch to catch a brief nap.When she woke up, the first thing she felt was the weight of a figure pressing down on her.Noelle gasped in shock and instinctively opened her mouth to scream, but Hendrix quickly covered her mouth with his hand.It was only when his palm pressed down on her that Noelle realized who it was. Her body, which had been rigid with tension, relaxed at once.Hendrix noticed the change and pressed his weight into her even more without hesitation, lowering his head to kiss her lips.Noelle could smell the alcohol on him. Just as she was about to pull away, he gripped her chin firmly and bit her lip.The taste of champagne mingled with the kiss.Combined with the overzealous energy Hendrix was showing, Noelle couldn't help but make a soft protest. She instinctively pushed against his chest, trying to create some distance.But Hendrix qu
By the time Hendrix walked out of the bathroom, Noelle was no longer in the bedroom. He was stunned a little before he exited the room.Noelle was slipping into her shoes at the door. Hendrix looked at her, and his expression darkened. "Where are you going?""Home." Noelle didn't even turn around to look at him. Hendrix immediately pursed his lips, and the coldness in his eyes intensified. However, Noelle ignored him and opened the door. Afterward, the door was closed again, and Hendrix was left all alone in the spacious house. When he turned around, he swung his foot and kicked the trash can, toppling it. Noelle didn't notice what Hendrix had just done. She kept the cufflinks in her bag, and she thought about tossing them into the trash can when she walked past one. However, her hand was suspended in midair for a long time, and she still couldn't let it go. That was when Noelle's phone rang. "You're not asleep yet, are you, Elle?" Evelyn sounded very exhilarated over the
Evelyn was good at socializing. She might've been a little timid at first, but she came into herself after she warmed up. Eventually, she was exchanging business cards with everyone. "Hi, Mr. Yoder!"At last, she saw the man she was looking for tonight. She immediately extended her hand and said, "I'm Evelyn from Galaxy Comics. We talked on the phone before this.""Oh, it's you." The man standing opposite them shook Evelyn's hand before he slowly looked at Noelle and scanned her from head to toe. "She's the comic artist behind 'Crabapple Haven.'""Oh. Have we seen each other before?" Maxton Yoder raised an eyebrow. "Why do I get the feeling that you look familiar?""I don't think so. I don't usually go outside," Noelle merely responded with a smile. Maxton still felt suspicious, but he quickly said, "I've seen your comics, and they are indeed suitable for an adaptation. Moreover, Mr. Quinlan also found it interesting after he read it. He even said that he wanted to meet with
Noelle seemed very solemn, but Brandon merely chuckled. "I guess you're right. I'm sorry. That was inconsiderate of me." He was very sincere when he apologized, and she looked a little pushy in comparison. Noelle also realized it. So, she apologized and said, "I got worked up just now.""It's fine. Your reputation is at stake, after all. It's only understandable that you reacted like that. It's my bad to begin with." The elevator door slid open as Brandon spoke. He was absolutely right when he said that the view on the balcony was wonderful up here. The distant neon lights flickered gently, and the blowing wind lifted Noelle's spirits. Brandon glanced at Noelle's reaction and confirmed that she was happy with this spot before he continued, "Actually, I'm quite against the idea of Maxwell and Sandra being together."Maxwell is my younger brother. Although I wasn't willing to accept that fact, blood is thicker than water. As far as I'm concerned, Sandra isn't a good choice for
Noelle tapped on the car window gently. "Mrs. Freeman!"Noelle corrected Levi multiple times, but the latter was still used to addressing her in this manner. By now, she couldn't be bothered to correct him anymore. She nodded. "What are you doing here?""Mr. Freeman went out on a work trip," Levi explained. "He went overseas and won't be back until after a week. This is the invitation and plane ticket he wanted me to give you."Noelle was stunned. By the time she lowered her eyes, she found that the audition invitation Hendrix gave her was already in her hands.Noelle left it at Percy Gardens previously, but she didn't expect him to send it back to her once more. He even bought her a plane ticket to Leverton. Just as Noelle was staring at the ticket and spacing out, Levi spoke up again, "Mrs. Freeman?" He was also giving her a strange look.Noelle came back to her senses and shook her head. "I'm not taking them.""Um… Mr. Freeman prepared these just for you, Mrs. Freeman. Mor
"Mr. Freeman," Dan greeted when he saw Hendrix.Dan was at Coppersville Airport, and he could tell at first glance that Hendrix was displeased. He still handed the latter the file in his hand. "This is the data report from Zenvora. They have just sent it earlier. Please have a look at it."Hendrix cast a glance at it and asked, "And?""Huh?""What comes after the market valuation? How are they going to attract the investors? What about the relevant analysis report and media outreach plans?"Aside from that, Hendrix asked Dan a barrage of questions so overwhelming that the latter was stumped. Initially, he was walking, but he suddenly stopped in his tracks. Then, he turned around and looked at Dan, and his expression was as dark as coal. "I can look past it if they didn't know me well enough, but you've been working for me a long time now, Dan. How could you not have figured out something this simple?"Initially, Dan thought Hendrix would take a look at this report and determine
Sandra had a whole plan, and she even prepared a dance to further her personal agenda tonight. However, all of it went down the drain, and it was all because of Noelle.Noelle wore a mask, and her appearance was completely different from her usual getup. However, Sandra recognized her at first glance.At that moment, Sandra had the strong urge to make a dash at Noelle and tear off the latter's mask or just give her a hard shove. However, she did nothing of the sort. After all, she would've destroyed the image she had painstakingly maintained all these years.Sandra remained where she stood. She nearly ground her teeth to dust with how much gnashing she was doing. But aside from that, there was nothing else she could've done. This moment suddenly took Sandra back to when she was 14 years old. It was the time when she heard that Noelle would rejoin the Swanson family. For the last ten years, Sandra had reveled in all the attention and affection she received in the Swanson family.
The moment Hendrix fixed his eyes on Noelle, she suddenly found herself at a loss for words. As their eyes met, even the tips of her ears began to flush red without her realizing it."Why are you looking at me like that?" Noelle couldn't help but ask."So, have you remembered everything?" Hendrix asked instead. "Everything about us?""No," Noelle replied, turning her head away. "My head hurts. Didn't you say you were going to get the doctor? You can go—"But before she could finish, Hendrix suddenly grabbed her hand. His grip wasn't strong, but the way his fingers gently moved across hers felt like an intimate caress.Noelle couldn't help but tremble, and she instinctively tried to pull her hand back.But then Hendrix suddenly said, "Actually, even before we got married, I'd seen you many times."Noelle hadn't expected him to bring this up. She froze for a second. Then, she quickly said, "I know. Back then at college—""Not just at college. After I graduated, I went to see you,
"Who are you?"That was the first thing Noelle said when she opened her eyes.Hendrix had still been basking in the relief of her waking up, but the moment he heard those words, the expression on his face vanished completely."What did you say?" he asked, his voice slightly strained.Noelle didn't answer. She simply stared at him, confusion clear in her eyes.Hendrix clenched his fists tightly. Maybe it was because he had gone through something like this before that he was able to calm himself down quickly this time."I'm your husband. My name is Hendrix Freeman. Do you still remember your own name?" he asked."Husband?" Noelle frowned slightly. "As in—we're married?""Yes. And we have a daughter. Her name is Rosie. She's three years old. This is her picture."As he spoke, Hendrix started to pull up a photo on his phone.But Noelle quickly asked, "Then why don't I remember you?""You were injured. But don't worry. I'll get the doctor to take a look at you."As Hendrix moved
Dylan had been wrong all along.Money and power—none of that had ever been what he was truly meant to chase. Because no one could stay at the center of power forever, and no one could possess those things for all time. What he should have been chasing was just that one light. That one light that would stay on for him late into the night. But now, he knew it was all too late.As he closed his eyes, Dylan suddenly thought of his mother, Leah. He remembered how, as a child, he had longed for a new set of paintbrushes. He had asked his parents for them many times. He even wanted to use his own Christmas money to buy them. But they refused.They believed it was wasteful. It didn't align with the frugal and disciplined lifestyle they lived by. So in the end, Dylan stole the set of paintbrushes from the stationery store.Because he came from a prestigious scholarly family and always kept a refined, gentlemanly image in public, the store owner never suspected a thing.But his parents fo
"Are you crazy? Noelle, let go of the wheel!" Dylan struggled to regain control of the car, but Noelle held onto the steering wheel tightly, refusing to let go.The car didn't slow down. On the contrary, it raced forward at an even faster pace.How long did this go on? Maybe it lasted only dozens of seconds. But for Dylan, it felt like the blink of an eye. Because the next moment, he saw the oncoming car.That car was speeding as well.Dylan didn't even have time to grab his gun. Just as he was about to slam on the brakes, the two cars collided at high speed. There was a deafening crash as the cars were thrown into the air, then slammed back down.Dylan's eyes widened. But in that instant, his first instinct was to turn and look at Noelle. Her eyes were already closed. She looked as if she had been prepared to face death all along. She must have known what he intended to do, and she also knew he didn't actually want to die.The only reason he took her away was so he could use her
Erwin was just about to repeat his question when a voice came from behind."Excuse me, but I think I know where your wife is."Hendrix spun around immediately.Standing behind them was a woman with long hair and big eyes. "I saw her just now in the backyard. Someone was taking her away. If I'm not mistaken, I think it was Mr. Pritchett from Morphy Fund?"At the mention of Dylan, Hendrix's expression turned dark as thunder. He charged up to the woman. "Where did they go?""I'm not sure. But I did take down his license plate number. Do you need it?""Where is it?" Hendrix barked.The woman held out her hand. "I'll give it to you for 1,000 dollars."Hendrix didn't carry cash with him. But he shoved his bank card into her hand without hesitation. "The license plate number!"The woman looked at the card, a little dissatisfied. But considering Hendrix's status, she figured he likely wouldn't care about such a small amount of money. Thus, in the end, she still showed Hendrix the phot
"Erwin!"The voice came just as Erwin stood on the terrace, smoking a cigarette in frustration.Although they had technically won the battle and he had earned a great deal from it, he felt, strangely enough, not the slightest trace of satisfaction. Maybe it was because Hendrix had forced him into the game. Or maybe, by now, winning and losing simply didn't stir anything in him anymore.At the beginning, Erwin had been somewhat excited. He had thought Dylan would be a difficult opponent—someone who could cause serious trouble, maybe even defeat them entirely. That would have been interesting. But instead, everything had gone far too smoothly. There had been no twists and no turns. Just a clean finish. It was boring, to say the least.And the current victory party? Equally so.Hendrix had insisted Noelle attend the party, saying she had flawlessly completed her part of the plan and that this victory was also hers. So, the party had turned out very wholesome, or rather, dull.Erwi
Erwin still showed signs of dissatisfaction. It seemed he was saying something, but Noelle could no longer hear him. She didn't look back either, instead turning her gaze to the other people at the party.The loud music continued, and the excitement and energy of the crowd remained high. But Noelle knew that this wasn't the usual celebration. This, in fact, was just Hendrix's way of making her adapt and accept the situation.Though she had known this for some time, the realization still made Noelle uncomfortable. Then, she suddenly remembered something Dylan had told her a few days ago about her past with Hendrix.Even though she knew Dylan's words weren't necessarily true, that didn't mean everything he said was a lie. How much of the past he mentioned was real, and how much was false?Noelle actually thought her life was fine now. She was willing to accept her past choices and believed in Hendrix's feelings for her. At least, this was what she thought sometimes.But at other tim
Dylan didn't dare to stay there. He immediately drove back to his place.He wanted to take Noelle with him and leave. Even if she didn't have her passport, it didn't matter. After all, there were definitely people looking for him right now.But no matter what, he was going to protect her. Even if they had to roam the world, it didn't matter. As long as they were together, it was fine. Even if it was just a shabby house, as long as there was a light on, that would be their home.However, when Dylan returned to the apartment, he found Noelle nowhere in sight. Gone also were all her things. The desk and floor were spotless, as if nothing had ever existed there.Dylan remained standing where he was. It took him several minutes to finally process what he was seeing. Then, he couldn't help but laugh. It was as if he had just heard the biggest joke—he laughed so hard that his whole body shook.Of course, how could he have thought she would be waiting for him here? How could she possibly
"I'm damned for ever believing your words! Now, just die!" George didn't give Dylan another chance to speak. He pulled the trigger, aiming to shoot a bullet through Dylan's forehead.In that instant, Dylan finally understood. This time, Hendrix didn't intend to leave him alive.If the goal had only been to swallow up Morphy Fund and make Dylan lose everything, the matter would have ended there. However, it seemed that Hendrix must have said something to George, which led him to believe that Dylan and Hendrix were working together—that Dylan had betrayed Morphy Fund.At this point, George had no way out. So, it wouldn't be surprising if he shot Dylan in the head. What Hendrix wanted was for him to die.Dylan didn't know what he was thinking at that moment. By the time he reacted, he had already grabbed the gun's barrel and twisted it violently. The bullet scraped past his head.Without hesitation, George moved to pull the trigger again when Dylan, still holding onto his wrist, forc